Musical instrument



1,643,044 B. A. ASKELSON MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Sept. 20, 1927.

Filed July 28, 1925 gumwm Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN A. ASKELSON, 01E MAZENOD, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

,Application filed July 28, 1925.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in musicalinstruments, and particularly to instruments of the violin type.

One object of the invention is to provide an instrument of thischaracter which is equipped with a sound amplifying means whereby toincrease the volume of the instrument, without the necessity ofproviding a hollow resonant body.

Another object is to provide an attachment arranged to contact with thestrings, slightly in advance of the bridge of the instrument, for thepurpose of forcing all of the strings to vibrate, when one string isvibrated by a how, to render the rocking action of the bridge moreeffective and certain.

Other objects and advangtages will be ap' parent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a musical instrument made in accordancewith the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents theelongated body of the instrument, which has the trans verse chin restportion 11, on one end, and the regular vio'lin neck and fingerboard 12on the other end. On the upper side of the body, inwardly of the chinrest portion, is the tail-piece 13, to which the strings 14 areattached, the other end of said strings being properly wound on thetuning pegs 15. Mounted on the body, in advance of the tailpiece 13, arethe parallel spaced blocks 16, and properly supported by the upper endsof the blocks is a pivot pin or shaft 17, on which is mounted the lowertapered end of the bridge 18, said bridge having a downwardly extendingarm, formed integrally therewith, as shown at 19, which is disposedthrough a vertical opening 20, formed in the instrument body, directlybelow the space between the blocks 16. Secured to the lower face of thebody, and depending below the body, dirctly beneath the opening 20, is abracket 21 in which is mounted a sound reproducing means 22, similar tothat used in phonographs. The strings 14 are supported Serial No.46,622.

on the bridge 18, in the usual manner, in instruments of this class.Connected to the diaphragm 23, of the sound reproducing means 22, is thelower end of the arm 19, of the bridge, whereby upon vibration of astring, the bridge will rock on the pivot 17, and cause vibrations ofthe diaphragm.

Disposed across the strings 14, a short dis tance in advance of thebridge 18, is an armate bar 24;, the lower face of which is formed withnotches 25, for the reception of the said strings. Connected to theintermediate portion of this bar 24 is a stem 26, the lower end of whichis provided with a hook 27 engaged on the pivot 17, whereby to draw thebar down tightly onto the strin s.

Connected to the other side of the sound reproducing means 22 is a horn28 which eX- tends upwardly and longitudinally of the in strument, inthe direction of the neck, whereby the sound issuing therefrom will bedirected away from the player, and to ward an audience.

What is claimed is:

1. A musical instrument including a body, strings on the body, a supporton the body, a. bridge pivotally mounted on the support and supportingthe strings, a sound reproducing means on the body, means on the bridgeconnected with the sound reproducing means, and means bearing downwardlyon the said strings and having taut connection with the pivot of thebridge whereby to increase the vibration of the bridge and of all of thestrings through the medium of those being played upon.

2. A musical instrument including a body, a rock-able bridge supportedpivotally on the body, strings supported on the bridge, a soundreproducer supported below the body and operatively connected with thebridge by an arm on the said bridge, an arcuate bar bearing on thestrings in advance of the bridge and having notches receiving thestrings, and a stem rigidly carried by the arcuate bar and pivotallyengaged with the pivot of the bridge, said stem being taut to maintainsaid bar in firm engagementwith the strings, whereby to cause thevibration of the bridge and of all of the strings through the medium ofthe strings being played upon.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN A. ASKELSON.

